Schreier: Previous attempts to regulate the video game industry, most infamously in 2010 or 2011 with a Supreme Court case about violent video games have all failed. I believe a state senator in Hawaii was looking to introduce loot box legislation that also failed. So I guess youll have to count me as skeptical that this has much of a chance of getting traction in Congress.
Hawley: Well see. Certainly the reception we have gotten from parents, from gamers has been absolutely tremendous. And we intend to push forward. I think this is something that people should be aware of, I think its an issue that more and more people are going to care about as they learn about it, and itll be the start of a broader conversation.
Schreier: Republican philosophy is generally all about personal accountability. Microtransactionsnobodys forced to pay for them or buy loot boxes. Why not let the free market decide their fate?
Hawley: Well, similarly, as with casinos, we dont allow children to go into casinos. We very carefully control, regulate what our children are exposed to. This is well within that model. This is something every parent should care about, and I actually dont think that exertingwhen people understand that whats essentially happening here is online gambling being inserted into these games, I think a concern about
Schreier: But thats not just what youre talking about here. Your bill also includes pay-to-win games which are not gambling, theyre paying for perks in a game.
Hawley: Similar, though. Once again its a microtransaction thats not necessarily expected, especially from a child up front. And it is meant to induce obviously further playing, but also further spending of money. So it works in much the same way I think. The same arguments would apply.
Schreier: What would you say to a video game company that says, Hey, without these things, youre going to cause us to crash, cause this entire industry to fold?
Hawley: These are very resourceful people, and Im sure they can design games that dont rely on gambling directed at children in the center of the game.
PR guy Mike Berg: Hey Jason, weve got time for one more question.
Schreier: Sure. Something Im actually personally curious about, and this is not related, but I know that you count Peter Thiel among your [contributors]. Have you guys ever talked about what it was like to try to obliterate my company?
Hawley: (laughs) We have not. So I dont have any personal information there.
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